HR: 1330h
AN: SM22B-0244    [PDF]
TI: 3D Multi-fluid Simulations of Ganymede's Magnetosphere
AU: * Paty, C
EM: carol@ess.washington.edu
AF: University of Washington Earth and Space Sciences, Box 351310, Seattle, WA 98195-1310 United States
AU: Winglee, R M
EM: winglee@ess.washington.edu
AF: University of Washington Earth and Space Sciences, Box 351310, Seattle, WA 98195-1310 United States
AU: Harnett, E
EM: eharnett@ess.washington.edu
AF: University of Washington Earth and Space Sciences, Box 351310, Seattle, WA 98195-1310 United States
AB: The location of Ganymede and its magnetosphere well inside the Jovian magnetosphere provides a unique case study for magnetosphere and ionosphere coupled interactions between this satellite and Jupiter. Auroral expressions of this coupling have been observed at both Jupiter and Ganymede by the Space Telescope imaging spectrograph on HST. The parameter space surrounding Ganymede is also unique in the solar system in that it provides the only example of a magnetosphere in a nearly sonic and Alfvenic flow region where there is continuous reconnection driving storm-like processes. A preliminary study was performed using 3D multi-fluid simulations that examine the range of possible Alfven and sonic mach number flows and their effect on Ganymede's magnetosphere and weak ionosphere. Value ranges for these flows were determined from plasma and magnetic field measurements made by the Galileo satellite and from Jovian global simulations. These simulations show a highly warped magnetopause where the location on the flanks is consistent with measurements and theory extrapolated from the Galileo flybys. The simulations show differential acceleration of the heavy Ganymede ions with respect to the lighter Jovian magnetospheric population. Ion cyclotron effects produce substantial asymmetries in the Ganymede magnetosphere which effect the location of the tail neutral line and overall shape of the magnetosphere.
DE: 2732 Magnetosphere interactions with satellites and rings
DE: 2736 Magnetosphere/ionosphere interactions
DE: 2753 Numerical modeling
DE: 5737 Magnetospheres (2756)
DE: 6218 Jovian satellites
SC: SPA - Magnetospheric Physics [SM]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting